For University City resident James Parker, bridging the gap between corporate management and employees became a personal challenge. After spending the early years of his career in sales management, Parker saw a side of business that he couldn’t relate to. Management encouraged sales directors to manage through intimidation, pressure and fear. Employee turnover was high, costing thousands of dollars annually for recruiting, hiring and training. This was not the path that Parker wanted to continue along.
Ten years ago, he opened his own business, in which he works with individuals and organizations to motivate change in personal and professional growth. He has combined his senior-level management experience and his experience in psychotherapy. Parker’s specialties include personality, behavioral and psychological assessments that delve into the depths of personality and the reality in which one lives, public and private seminars in leadership, motivation, influence, communication skills, sales and a variety of other psychology-based trainings. A large part of his practice is coaching, during which he offers a system to help executives and individuals negotiate life gainfully.
“Coaching can motivate and accelerate human performance,” said Parker, adding that “its purpose is to develop forward thinking, problem solving and finding solutions to get results.”
Coaching has become popular over the years to help prevent derailment in life and in relationships, unleash higher potential, improve job performance, enhance leadership capability and help with time management, control, innovation, motivation and making better choices.
Recently, Parker chose to achieve his advanced degree and graduated with honors from the University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in counseling, specializing in marriage, family and child therapy. He chose the University of Phoenix because it was a viable option for working adults.
“While attending the University of Phoenix, I met some amazing people who were focused on achieving their goals and dreams,” he said. “Since the students were older, they brought practical experience into the classroom and we learned from faculty currently working in the field.”
After completing one year of pro-bono service at the San Diego Hospice as a bereavement therapist, he summarizes his experience into one simple message: “I earned something greater than a degree: an education. I learned that materialism, the stuff television, books and movies and our ego sells us, may settle our nerves but falls short of settling or sustaining our soul. True pillars for sustaining life resides in our capacity for strength, memories, love, faith, hope, family and courage.”
Currently Parker is completing his licensure as a marriage and family therapist intern, under the supervision of Paul Hagenburger. His private practice work centers on individual, couple and family therapy with a focus on communication issues, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, job stress, sex and intimacy, self-confidence, self-esteem, loss and grief, and shyness as well as a myriad of other areas. His highly integrative approach addresses each client’s problem and outcome.
Parker lives in University City with his wife Janna. He has a passion for fitness “” running, cycling and swimming. He is currently writing a self-help book.
For more information visit his website, www.jameswilliamparker.com.